Scott Starks, PhD, PE
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
UTEP
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A capacitor is an electrical component that
stores energy in an electric field.
It consists of two conductors separated by a
dielectric material.
Capacitors are widely used as parts of circuits
in many common electrical devices.
Energy is stored in the electrostatic field.
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When a voltage is placed
across a capacitor, an
electric field develops
across the dielectric.
This causes positive charge
to collect on one plate and
negative charge on the
other plate.
As the voltage is varied, so
too does the amount of
charge on each plate.
The change in charge
constitutes and electric
current.
Explanation
Functional Diagram

Current and voltage
obey the following law,
iC
i
dv
dt



where i is current
(Amps),
+
v
-
v is voltage (Volts), and
C is capacitance
(Farads).
Current/Voltage Law
Schematic Diagram
i C
dv

dt
v (V)
dv
dt
i (A)
6
5
4
2
0
-2 0
2
4
6
8
t (s)
10
0
2
4
6
-4
-5
-6
Plot of Voltage
Plot of Current
8
t (s)